As a child, my family explained to me how I contained ancestry from fifteen separate countries, ranging from five of the world’s seven continents. I inherited a fondness and a curiosity for other cultures and ways of life. This mentality grew in me a need to learn of the numerous cultures and people that make me who I am. One of them happened to be Scottish heritage from the Thom(p)son Clan. My fascination with Scotland and Scottish culture expanded after attending the annual Highland Games Festival at Old Westbury Gardens. There I fell in love with the sound of the bagpipes and the regimental feel of the bands, and subsequently joined the Gordon Highlander’s Pipe Band of Locust Valley, Long Island, NY.

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I was 9 years old when I first joined the band in 2004. I started off playing the tenor drum during our parades, but after learning a great deal of skills and music from the band, I worked my way up to the Great Highland Bagpipes. My first set of pipes were handed down to me by my Glaswegian Pipe Major, Andrew McDicken. It was a great honor to be offered his pipes that he had been playing since the 1960s; and these are indeed the same set of pipes I play today. 

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